College Planning Calendar

~Junior Year~

• Take PSAT
• Attend College Fair(s)
• Attend college representative visits arranged through guidance

• Review PSAT scores & implications with your counselor

• Register for SPRING (March, May, or June) SAT I (www.collegeboard.org)
• Establish and evaluate your personal college requirements. (tuition, location, major, etc) AND discuss them with parents

March - May

• Make appointment with guidance counselor for college counseling - parents invited
• Email colleges for catalogs, viewbooks & other information
• Make a list of colleges you plan to visit. Spring vacation is a good time because most classes are in session.
• Students wishing to attend any of the military academies should contact Senators and Congressmen and obtain an application from the academies involved.
• Contact prospective coaches to discuss athletics

June

• Visit schools on your list. Try to narrow the list to 5 - 7 colleges to which you will apply. Obtain all applications and gather pertinent information on which you will base your final choice.
• Complete application essay. Prepared essays can be adapted to any essay encountered. Use essay choices on the common application.

July

• Submit NCAA Clearinghouse form if you intend to participate in college athletics http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/NCAA/common/index.html
• The Guidance Office is open all summer to assist you

~Senior Year~

September

• Register for SAT I and/or II
• Athletes must complete NCAA Eligibility Form online
• Secure any outstanding college applications
• Review requirements for essays and personal statements
• Finalize personal statement/essay
• Select final college choices
• Approach teachers to write letters of recommendation (two is enough)**Don't forget a Thank-You note!
• Review Scholarship Bulletin for national, state, & county scholarships for which you might be eligible. Bulletin is available in the guidance office or online at http://www.whippanypark.org/guidance/scholarships.html

October

• Complete applications for first choice colleges
• Schedule college interviews where appropriate
• Complete CSS Profile (if required by the college, is first level of financial aid)http://profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp
• Review Scholarship Bulletin

October - November

• Make appointment with counselor to discuss the application process,deadlines, & secure letters of recommendations from teachers and counselors

November - December

• Attend Return of Graduate Assembly - meet past graduates to hear about their college experiences
• All applications should be submitted to your counselor by December 10th (remember Thanksgiving & Christmas breaks)
• All interviews should be scheduled (if applicable)
• Take SAT II (if your college requires them)
• Review Scholarship Bulletin

January

• File for FAFSA after January 1st (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov)
• Mid-year grades are forwarded to all colleges to which you have applied
• Advise guidance counselor of acceptances and rejections as they become available
• Review Scholarship Bulletin

March

• Apply for local scholarships - information is distributed through the Language Arts classes. Information is available http://www.whippanypark.org/guidance/scholarships.html

April

• Inform guidance counselor of acceptances, rejections, withdrawals, & wait lists

May- June

• Maintain your academic grades. Colleges look unfavorably upon grades that drop in senior year. When final grades are available, they will be sent to the college you plan to attend.